Boxers Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke received a huge welcome home from family, friends and supporters at Dublin Airport on Saturday evening as the world champions returned from Istanbul proudly wearing their gold medals.
On Thursday the pair joined an exclusive group of Irish world boxing champions that now totals five. Prior to this week's exploits, only Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington and Michael Conlan had secured world gold for Ireland.
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An emotional Broadhurst said winning gold had been a dream of hers since she was five years old, while O’Rourke paid tribute to both Taylor and Harrington who she said had paved the way in the sport.
Along with the glory of being crowned world champion, both boxers receive prize money of $100,000.
Celebrations will continue into the night as both boxers make their journeys back to their respective home towns.
Broadhurst hails from Dundalk and O'Rourke is from Castlerea in County Roscommon.
Broadhurst won her gold medal in the welterweight class by beating Algeria's Imane Khelif in their decider, while O'Rourke's triumph was against Mozambique's Alcinda Helena Panguane in the final of the light middleweight division.
Although happy to be home, O'Rourke said that a lot of memories have been made.
"I'm just delighted to be home. It's been a long five weeks, but a very good and enjoyable five weeks," she told RTÉ News.
"A lot of memories have been made and I'm just over the moon."
Broadhurst said that it will take a few months for her new title to sink in.
"It doesn't even feel real yet. Even when I say it, it hasn't sunk in. When I say I'm a world champion. I've been waiting for this for so long. Since I was five-years-old," she said.
"These are the things that I've dreamt of. It's an incredible feeling."
Castlerea community welcome home local hero O'Rourke
Crowds have turned out in Castlerea in Co Roscommon tonight for the homecoming of world boxing champion Lisa O'Rourke.
The light middleweight gold medal winner was greeted with roars of approval and rapturous applause as she was taken on a victory parade through the town in a vintage car.
She was accompanied by her sister Aoife, who is a highly-regarded boxer in her own right, winning a European title in 2019.
Lisa then joined her parents Kevin and Ann, along with her sisters, on stage in the town square. The sheer joy of returning to her home county as a world champion boxer was etched across her face as she beamed broadly at the hundreds of people who came out to support her.
Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice said the 20-year-old champion was a wonderful role model for young girls.
"Lisa has combined true talent with hard work, discipline, resilience and true grit. And look at the result," he said.
"We are all so proud of her and delighted for the O'Rourke family who are a much respected, well liked and modest family.
"We will never forget this awesome achievement for the family and indeed for the whole of Roscommon and beyond."
Lisa is one of five girls in the O'Rourke family, with sisters Aisling, Áine and Ailish also taking part in the celebrations.
Additional reporting: Teresa Mannion
